Money available for Sandy Hook immediate needs

Updated 11:42 pm, Tuesday, February 5, 2013

NEWTOWN -- The United Way of Western Connecticut, along with the Newtown Rotary, is making more than $220,000 in assistance available to those affected by the Sandy Hook shootings who have immediate financial or mental health needs.

In a statement released Tuesday, local United Way chief Kim Morgan said $110,000 is being made available to help families and first responders still reeling from the tragedy who need financial assistance as a result of lost wages or other financial hardships.

She added that another $110,000 is being made available to help the families and first responders with their mental health needs.

More Information

About the funds$220,000 for financial needs and mental health assistance is now available.The money is available to help families who lost loved ones, families with children attending Sandy Hook Elementary, and first responders who were called to the school the day of the shooting.For information, call 860-990-1984.

"We understand some families, school personnel and first responders have not been able to return to work or school, or have now incurred added mental health needs," Morgan said.

"Our goal is to provide funds to help reduce these added burdens and to do so in a process that's helpful, quick and respectful in an effort to distribute immediate funds to the people who need it the most," she said.

Morgan has stressed that the money is not from the United Way's Sandy Hook School Support Fund, but from separate donors who wished to help with immediate needs of those most affected.

A transition team, meanwhile, is in the final stages of developing a foundation that will distribute the more than $8.5 million that's been donated to the support fund to date.

Morgan said the United Way has teamed up with the state's Office of Victim Services to help distribute the immediate needs money.

Those who are eligible include families who lost loved ones in the shooting, families who have children attending the school, personnel of Sandy Hook Elementary School, and first responders who were called to the school on the day of the shooting.

People who are seeking assistance can call a dedicated phone number established by the victim services office, 860-990-1984. Victim services officials with also be available at Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane, from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays.